Entry 11: It’s Official! He’s My Boyfriend

Halloween is coming up. I don't know what I'm going to be but this gives me the perfect opportunity to make the statement that Preston and I are together. A couples costume! I know they're cheesy or whatever but I'm totally certain we could make it look cool.

So today, Preston came to my cheerleading practice again. He's been coming a lot lately and the football players have gone radio silent. Everyone except Drake. The weird thing is, it's like he's totally ignoring me. Now he just harasses Preston. I feel bad that my ex gives Preston so much shit. It's really not fair to him. He doesn't seem to mind but you know how Preston is. He wouldn't say anything even if it did bother him.

After Practice on Friday, I asked Preston to hangout with me before he had to go to The Basement. He agreed and I begged him to take me to the coffee shop. I was surprised when he said he'd never been there before. Not even with Alyssa.

"Jesus Christ, you want to wait in that line?" He complained about the drive thru.

"No, we should just go inside."

When we got into the cafe, I could tell by the look on his face that he thought it was equally bad. He didn't say anything the whole time we waited in line. He just wrapped his hand around my waist and pulled me in close. I couldn't stop the stupid goofy grin plastered on my face. Preston's physical affection was the only telling thing about him.

"Can I get a grande Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino and substitute the whole milk for sweet cream."

"Sure thing, and what can I get you?" The barista asked Preston.

"Coffee."

The barista and I laughed at Preston's short request but he didn't find it humorous.

"Preston, what kind of coffee?"

"Black."

"Size?" I asked.

"Large."

I turned to the barista and placed his order for him.

"He'll take a venti dark roast Sumatra."

"What the hell is that?" Preston asked me.

"Black coffee," I explained with a smile.

He shook his head and stepped to the waiting area. I could tell he thought the whole place was ridiculous, there was no hiding it. He even went as far as to verbalize those feelings as we got in the car.

"That place is terrible," he said, sipping his coffee.

"You don't like it?"

"The coffee's fine."

"Here, try mine." I said with a smile.

He looked at me funny but took it anyway. Preston took one sip and something flickered across his face but only for a split second. He liked it. I could tell. Despite that, he handed it back to me.

"It's alright," he said nonchalantly.

I rolled my eyes while taking the drink back. He definitely liked it. He just didn't want to admit it.

When he turned the car on, I shot him a charming smile and put my hand on his leg. I knew I'd taken him by surprise by the way he was staring down at it.

"Preston, can you take me to the Halloween store? It's right around the corner, up the road," I tried to sound as sweet as possible so he couldn't resist.

"Sure."

Walking around the store with Preston was supposed to be fun. Every time I showed him a costume and asked him if he liked it, he always responded the same with a shrug, a 'sure' or a 'yeah'. But things changed when we got to the couple's section.

"Usually Leah and I dress up together in something like this," I pointed out to a cop and a thief costume. "But maybe, instead, you and I could wear a costume together this year...?"

When Preston didn't say anything, I panicked a little.

"I mean, I know you're not my boyfriend or anything but-"

"I'm not?" He interjected.

Preston sounded genuinely confused as he folded his arms, looking down at me.

"I mean, if you want to be you can be... I just thought since you never said anything that we weren't like boyfriend and girlfriend yet. I want to be. I just didn't know if you even wanted to be my boyfriend."

"I thought I already was," He still sounded confused.

"Oh okay," I said, trying so hard to keep cool. "Yeah then I'm your girlfriend. We're a couple. In a relationship."

I turned away from Preston and let myself smile like an idiot. I was screaming internally! I wanted to jump up and down and throw myself at him. I think I even squealed out loud.

"How about this?" I grabbed a sexy nun costume and held it up to his face. "You could be a priest. You wouldn't have to dress up even. Just wear that little white collar with some black clothes."

Preston took the costume from my hand without a word. He grabbed himself a fake priest collar and a rosary. We walked over to the checkout counter and he even paid for everything. Meanwhile, I kept trying to hide my grinning face from him.

"Ready?" He asked as he handed me the bag.

I smiled with a nod and we got back into his car. When he dropped me off at my house, I was hesitant to get out.

"I wish I could go to the club with you," I frowned.

"It's okay, I'll see you tomorrow."

"I know, but I always want to be with you."

Preston smirked and shook his head.

"Maybe I can get you a fake."

I pondered the idea of a fake ID for a moment. If I got one, I'd be able to see Preston perform all the time.

"I would love that!" I leaned over the center console and hugged him.

Preston put his arms around me as well.

"I'll see what I can do."

Before he could break away, I moved my hands to his neck and leaned in. I kissed his lips, parting them gently with mine. He didn't hesitate to kiss me back and I melted.

I quickly congealed back together when my mother so rudely interrupted by tapping on the window.

"Hey guys! Parker come and help me, I was just gardening."

What a liar. I never rolled my eyes harder. She was not gardening, she was spying. I think she thinks I'm gonna get pregnant. Like that's the only thing I haven't done to ruin my parents' perception of me. If only she knew how much Drake pressured me to do things as opposed to Preston. He didn't make me feel like I had to do anything. Hell, I initiated most of the making out that we did and Preston always asked before kissing me. He was like a perfect gentleman when I thought about it.

"Mom! We're busy!" I rolled the window down and snapped at her.

"It's okay, I'll call you later tonight." Preston urged me to get out of the car.

I sneered at my mom as she opened the door for me. I got out and Preston handed me my book bag along with my cheerleading duffle bag.

"Promise you'll call?" I asked.

Preston nodded as he knocked his car out of park and reversed into the street. I stood there staring after him totally enchanted by my beautiful new boyfriend. Of course, I couldn't fawn over him for long because Mom had to interrupt yet again.

"Parker, are you and Preston...?"

"Boyfriend and Girlfriend." I sighed dreamily.

"No, are you two...having sex?"

I shot my mom a disgusted look. How could she say such a word to my face like that? Ew, I did not want to have the sex talk with my mom but of course we went there.

"You can tell me. I won't get mad. I just want to make sure you're being safe! We could put you on birth control and I could buy you condoms. Just don't tell your father, he might have a heart attack."

Heart attack? I think my Dad would more accurately combust into flames.

"Mom, Preston and I didn't... No. we're not."

"Oh," she sounded way too pleasantly surprised.

"Preston doesn't try anything like that. Funny how you never asked me these things when I dated Drake. He always wanted to."

"And you two?"

"No we didn't. I didn't want to. Why do you think I sent him the pictures in the first place?"

Standing there in the driveway with my mom, nearly a year after the incident, it was nice to talk to her about it openly. I never explained why I had done it. I was never really given the chance to. I was just immediately blamed for everything. My mother seemed disturbed by what I had told her. Like Preston had that night at the diner. Like they couldn't believe I had been in such an emotionally abusive relationship. How could they? I hid it so well.

I had never considered my mom an ally until today. She finally really listened to me. A part of me was hoping she would go and tell my dad everything I said since he would listen to her. But I was glad we had that conversation in confidence as well. For the first time, I feel like I can go to her about things.